Math-a-thon raises $6,309 for St. Jude Children's Hospital

SOMERSET — With the fundraiser they did recently, students at Somerset Middle School both improved on their mathematics skills and made a donation to a worthy cause.

The annual math-a-thon that the students participated in was to help the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which they contributed a combined $6,309 to this year.

"It's a way for them to show some support, using their math skills, and to do community service, helping themselves and helping others with math at the same time," said Somerset Middle School math teacher Diane Diogo.

Students who participated in the math-a-thon got pledges for doing problems online or in a fun book. Depending on how much money they raised, they received prizes. For $35 or more, they were given a tee shirt and for $75 or more, they were given a backpack. They could earn other prizes for raising higher amounts of money.

"I think they do like it," Ms. Diogo said of how the students feel about the fundraiser. "It's their way of helping others. Sometimes, people think they have to do something extraordinary to have an impact on people's lives, but sometimes things like this have an impact. Every little bit helps."

Elizabeth Rousseau made, by far, the largest donation with $760. Last year, she raised $500 for the hospital. The total amount of money that the students raised for the hospital was about $300 less than last year.

"With the economy, I was still pleased," Ms. Diogo said.

Ms. Diogo has been coordinating the math-a-thon with the middle school students since 1995 and since that time, has raised a combined $55,500 for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Before the math-a-thon is started, Ms. Diogo shows the students a video about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the only pediatric research center where no family ever pays for anything. The hospital, which opened in 1962, has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world. Because of treatments developed at the hospital, the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, has gone from four percent in the 1960s to 94 percent today. The daily operating cost of the hospital is about $1.7 million, which is primarily covered by public contributions. In the video, a boy who is being treated at the hospital says he is a former participant in the math-a-thon fundraiser.

Cameron Filipe, a student at the middle school, said he wanted to support the hospital and did about 45 problems during the math-a-thon.

"It's helping you learn and it's also helping a good cause, too, so it's a win-win situation," Filipe said.